Christmas Traditions In England

All throughout the month of December, people in England busy themselves preparing for the Christmas celebration. Preparations include baking and decorating of mince pies, Christmas cakes and the popular Christmas pudding.

The Christmas pudding has its own superstitions surrounding it. It is said that this popular dessert should be prepared by the 25th Sunday following Trinity, baked with 13 ingredients said to represent Jesus Christ and His 12 disciples, and that each member of the family should take turns in stirring the pudding using a wooden spoon from east to west, to honour the three wise men. A silver coin is dropped into the mixture of the pudding before it is cooked. It is said that the coin brings happiness, good health and great wealth to whoever finds it in his/her slice of the pudding.

The practice of using Advent calendars is also a tradition in England. The Advent calendar is used to count down the days leading to Christmas. It  is  made of thin rectangular shaped card made with about 24 to 25 small windows. The windows are numbered from 1 to 24/25. Window number 1 is opened on the 1st day of December, window 2 on the 2nd day etc., and behind each window is a Christmas scene.

People in England decorate their homes for the Christmas season. One prominent Christmas decoration is the Christmas tree. The Christmas tree is bedecked with tinsel, Christmas lights and baubles and with either a star or an angel placed on the top of the tree. Although of German custom, the Christmas tree became popular in England from way back 1841. Story has it that Prince Albert had a Christmas tree adorned with candles, displayed at the Windsor Castle for his family.

Christmas Eve is not given so much emphasis in England compared to other countries. However, for children Christmas Eve is a very exciting time. For them it is the time when Santa or Father Christmas comes. Father Christmas is  a prominent personality in the Christmas tradition of England.

Children hang  their stockings either at the end of their beds or on the fireplace for Father Christmas to fill them with goodies and presents, but only if they have been behaving well during the year. Children send letters to Father Christmas and these are tossed in the fireplace, the smoke of their burning letters goes up the chimney straight to Father Christmas.

Another English tradition at Christmas is the Pantomime. During the Christmas season towns and cities all over England play host to a production of pantomime. They are performed in different venues from theatres, to local village or community halls.  Whether it’s a lavish professional performance, or an ordinary amateur production show, it is always well attended. Pantomimes are predominantly intended for children, and are most often based on well-known fairy tale stories like Cinderella, Snow White, Peter Pan etc.

On Christmas morning, children rush to open the gifts Father Christmas left for them the night before. Many families also attend Christmas service at church and celebrate the day with a Christmas dinner feast.

 Another Christmas day tradition is the Queen’s Christmas message to the nation, broadcast in the afternoon over national radio and television. This tradition continues to this day.

The day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day in England. There are different opinions as to the origins of Boxing Day. It is said that Boxing Day was a day off for servants, a day when they received 'Christmas Boxes' from their masters. Others say it’s a box used to collect money for the poor, placed in Churches on Christmas day. In recent times Boxing Day has become synonymous with sport. Horse racing and top football games are played on Boxing Day. Boxing Day is also a time to spend with family or friends, especially those not seen on Christmas Day itself.

With all these rich Christmas traditions, surely Christmas is one season of the year that everyone looks forward to in England.